Why I left Enyimba

After scoring five goals in only nine appearances in the 2014/2015 Nigeria professional football league, SL10.ng spoke to one of Nigeria’s most in-form players, Fidelis Saviour of FC Taraba in this exclusive interview. Enjoy.

SL10: You have been one of the most in-form players in the premier league recently, even though you didn’t start the season with them. How would you describe it?

Saviour: Very good I would say, considering the fact that I didn’t start the season because I was injured and to have come back this way means a lot to me. Scoring five goals in nine matches in the Nigerian league isn’t an easy feat, but I’m happy I’ve been able to respond well since returning from injury. It has been good and I’m happy.

SL10: You are one of the most experienced players in the league today, having played for several clubs amongst them being some of the top clubs in the country. How would you describe playing for a lowly rated FC Taraba?

Saviour: Well it has been a good experience for me, I must say. I know they’re one of the biggest clubs in the country and the expectations and finance is relatively lower than some other clubs I’ve played for. But there is a reason I came here, and I’m focused so I can achieve my goal of joining Taraba. They’re a new side in the top flight and people might wonder what a player like me is doing at the club, but like I said, I’m happy to be here.

SL10: You left Enyimba, arguably Nigeria’s biggest club for a newly promoted Taraba. What was the motivating factor?

Saviour: I wanted a new challenge and a new environment and also a chance to play more regularly. It wasn’t like I wasn’t getting play time at Enyimba, but it just wasn’t enough for me so I had to leave. And remember also, that I actually played for Taraba before I joined Enyimba. So it’s more about game time for me.

SL10: A lot of people believe that it has something to do with the cash FC Taraba offered you.

Saviour: No. Never. It was never about the money, not at all. Let me say it here that I never joined FC Taraba because of money because the truth is, I am earning far less here than I was earning at Enyimba. Everybody knows that Enyimba is the biggest club in Nigeria and one of the richest so Taraba were never going to pay me more than Enyimba were. Like I said, I wanted to play more regularly, and also I wanted to play under Coach Salisu Yusuf again. He’s a fantastic coach and he’s got a great program for me. I should have for Turkey last season when I was at Enyimba but the transfer fee slapped on me chased the club away, that’s another reason why I left, not because of money.

SL10: So what’s the target for you now, having scored five goals in nine games?

Saviour: I have set a target of 22 goals this season and I hope to achieve that by the end of the season. I’m working hard on my game and I strongly believe I can get there (…cuts in)

SL10: …So it means you want to break the record of 20 goals set by your former team-mate at Kaduna United, Jude Aneke who’s currently the highest goal scorer in Nigerian league football.

Saviour: Yes, that’s the target and I believe I can get it even if we do not have too many games left. I believe miracles don’t only happen in Churches, we will see miracles happening on the football pitch this season provided I stay fit enough. I hope and pray for that.

SL10: Savior, you have played for almost ten clubs at home and abroad and you have barely stayed for more than two seasons at a stretch at any of these clubs. Why do you find it hard to stay put?

Saviour: Well, that is very difficult to explain because I don’t set out hoping not to stay long at a particular place. Most times things just happen that makes me leave. But I believe Taraba will be my last club in Nigeria because I don’t plan to change clubs until I secure a move abroad.

SL10: So that means there are offers you are considering right?

Saviour: Yes there are but forgive me because I cannot talk too much about them now. I will talk about it when it materializes and hopefully that will be soon and then the whole of Nigeria will know about it.

SL10: Finally, tell us the difference between the league now and ten years ago.

Saviour: I would say the league has improved tremendously and the level of refereeing as also improved, unlike the way it was in the past. Teams can now comfortably win games away from home, which was almost impossible when I came in. So it has improved a lot, but there are still grey areas and still a lot of work to be done if we want to have the league of our dreams.